Federer opened the second set with a break and cruised through the rest of the match, which lasted just over an hour.

With world number two Rafael Nadal eliminated on Thursday by 18-year-old Canadian Denis Shapovalov and world number one Andy Murray sidelined by a rib injury, Federer has an opportunity to regain his world number one ranking.

He would need to win the Rogers Cup and have an equal or better finish than Nadal at the Western & Southern Open in Cincinnati next week to become the world number one on Aug. 21.

“Now that Rafa is out I know I can make big strides, especially if I was to go further than the semis here. But it’s all connected to great play,” said the Australian Open and Wimbledon champion.